Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
After a slightly restless night tossing and turning, I am awake early enough to watch the morning sun rise, and I marvel at its beauty. Not many things are certain in this world, but the rise and fall of the sun can always be relied upon.
I am enjoying a coffee, enjoying this peaceful time of the morning, when Lulu appears at the balcony door, arms stretched above her head and yawning.
‘You’re awake early,’ she says sleepily.
‘I know, I didn’t sleep too well last night,’ I tell her. ‘Maybe I will have an early night after I have dropped you at the airport later.’
I haven’t really driven the hire car too much, having explored on the Jeep safari and taken local buses, but I may take myself off for a drive another time. It also means I can drive myself back to the airport as there is a branch of the car hire place where I can drop it off.
I tell Lulu to grab a cup, then pour her a coffee from the cafetière on the small table in front of me.
‘I can’t believe I will soon be back at work, taking orders for clothes.’ She sighs as she sips her drink. ‘Although, I think I am going to sign up for my dance classes again. Being here has given me a lot to think about,’ she says thoughtfully.
‘It kind of does that when you are away from everything, doesn’t it?’ I say, thinking that maybe I ought to try and secure a few singing jobs when I get home. Despite the nerves, singing here has made me realise just how much I love it.
‘It does. And having a life of my own is right at the top of the list,’ says Lulu.
‘Do you know, Chloe called earlier asking me when I would be home, which I thought was nice, and would you believe she was only after a lift somewhere.’ She shakes her head.
‘Unbelievable. I bet her and Tom won’t even think to make sure there is some milk in the fridge, and there is me, always fussing about them. ’
‘You will always be there for them. I guess that’s what being a parent is,’ I say. ‘But if you prioritise your own needs occasionally, it might make them grow up a bit,’ I suggest.
‘Most definitely.’ She smiles. ‘Right, I’m off for a shower.’
‘Okay. Is there anything you want to do today?’ I ask ‘We have hours until you need to go to the airport.’
‘Fancy a drive up to Ammoudi?’ she suggests. ‘I’ve been googling it, and apparently there is a wonderful fish restaurant there. I don’t think there is a lot else but it looks like a pretty setting. I thought maybe we could have a late lunch there before I leave?’
‘That sounds lovely.’
While Lulu is in the shower, I receive a message from Christos asking if I am free this evening.
I hesitate for a moment, despite feeling those familiar butterflies, before deciding why not?
I was half not expecting him to reach out after I turned down the winery.
I arrange to meet him at eight thirty after I have returned from dropping Lulu at the airport.
I flick through my socials then to find the pictures of Santorini have tens of thousands of views, and my followers are up by two thousand! I also have another invite to a fashion show next month at a smart hotel in a nearby city.
I hold my phone to my chest, and sigh with happiness. If my followers keep on growing like this, I will soon have ads on my page that can earn me an actual living, so at least things are going in the right direction.
Which is just as well really, as no job offers have come through. I hear that these days there are really high numbers of applicants chasing a single job, which is a bit disheartening to say the least.
We linger over a light breakfast of fruit and yoghurt at the Sea Breeze restaurant, before Lulu says her goodbyes to Irene and Patsy as I will be dropping Lulu at the airport on the way back from lunch.
‘I’m going to miss this place,’ says Lulu, glancing out across the sparkling sea. ‘The local café back home doesn’t quite have the same appeal.’ She sighs.
‘I don’t suppose anywhere is perfect, although I would rather be having a bad day over here,’ says Patsy as she turns her face to the sun.
We sit chatting for a while longer, before we decide to make a move.
‘Well, it has been so lovely meeting you,’ says Irene, hugging Lulu as does Patsy after they walk us to the hire car.
‘Another friend to add to WhatsApp. It feels good to be in touch with lots of people,’ Irene says with a wide smile. ‘Even if I don’t see them often, it makes me feel connected somehow, which is nice.’
‘It does,’ agrees Patsy. ‘And maybe we could all meet up again when we get home?’
‘I would love that,’ I say, pleased to be reunited with Irene after all these years. Especially as they only live around an hour’s drive away.
‘Although I will be joining that slimming club when I get back, so you might not recognise me next time you see me,’ Irene tells us with a cheeky wink.
‘Please say goodbye to Bryn and Ash for me,’ says Lulu, when she suddenly hears a voice behind her.
‘You can do that yourself,’ says Bryn, who is with Ash.
‘I thought you were going on an early boat tour?’ says Irene in surprise
‘We’ve booked a later one as I thought we might have breakfast here first.’
‘We’ve already eaten,’ says Patsy. ‘But I would love another coffee.’
‘I’m glad we caught you before you left,’ Bryn says kindly to Lulu.
‘And if you ever fancy a trip to Australia, you can come and stay in my apartment. Both of you, of course.’ He turns to me.
‘In fact, all of you, I have three bedrooms. And did I mention it’s a penthouse?
I have a view of a park and a glimpse of the river,’ he tells us and I realise I would quite like that too.
Bryn has really grown on me these last few days.
‘Thank you,’ says Lulu, before we step into the car.
‘Gosh, I feel almost emotional,’ says Lulu, after waving to our friends until they are out of sight. ‘I really have had the best time here.’ She sighs contentedly. ‘I can’t thank you enough for inviting me as your plus-one.’
‘It has made it even more special for me, you being here. I’m so glad you came,’ I tell my friend.
‘I am glad you persuaded me.’ She turns to me and smiles.
I’m so looking forward to seeing Tasha tomorrow too, and making the most of my remaining time here in Santorini. As we drive, I tell Lulu that Christos has been in touch and that I am meeting with him later this evening.
‘Well, I can definitely see the attraction,’ she says as we make our way along the picturesque mountain roads. ‘As long as you are in control, which I have no doubt you are. As you said, you don’t want to get your heart broken.’
‘Don’t worry about me,’ I say brightly, realising she is right to be cautious.
Despite that, a tiny part of me wonders if there’s the possibility of him settling down.
Could I be the one to persuade him to do just that?
We might fall madly in love and I could stay in this paradise forever.
We could be the golden couple of Fira, welcoming celebrities into the nightclub.
I could work on the social media alongside him and together we could make a great team.
I guess it does no harm to dream.
Arriving in Ammoudi, we descend some white steps from the main street to a small beach area that leads to the restaurant below.
We are greeted by the glorious sight of the Aegean Sea almost lapping at the table legs and circled by red-coloured hills in the near distance.
A string of octopuses is hanging over a rail near the edge of the water, and several fishing boats can be seen out at sea.
It’s pretty busy here, but Lulu rang ahead and luckily managed to reserve us a table.
‘I see what you mean about it being pretty here,’ I tell her as I glance around.
As we take our seat at our table on the wooden terrace it feels almost like being on the deck of a boat.
‘I know, it’s quite something here, isn’t it?’ agrees Lulu. ‘I don’t think the photos on the website really do it justice.’
Glancing around I spot a cosy wooden-hut style bar tucked away in a corner, and strung with fairy lights, which I imagine would look incredible in the evening.
‘It’s a shame we never came for the sunset here, it would be incredible,’ says Lulu, glancing around.
‘There’s always next time. If you fancy returning to Santorini, that is,’ I say as we pick up a menu.
‘Oh, I would love to,’ she says enthusiastically.
‘I might even consider it for next year. No doubt Tom and Chloe will be off somewhere on their own travels, and I can’t say I blame them.
’ She shrugs. ‘They don’t spend long in some of the places they visit, but at least they are seeing more of the world than I ever have. ’
‘They don’t, do they?’ I think of the time I went to Rome for a day on a budget flight.
But it’s nice to stay a while and really savour a place; being here has made me realise that.
‘And it’s your time now that the kids are older remember, so maybe you could see some of the places you always promised yourself you would visit,’ I suggest. ‘And I would always be happy to save up and join you,’ I tell her.
‘I might just hold you to that. I have always fancied Paris actually,’ she says.
‘Ah, the city of romance. Maybe you could go there with Phil,’ I tease.
‘What are you like! He hasn’t even asked me out.’ She is laughing as a waiter arrives and we place our order.
‘And would you say yes, if he did?’
‘I think I might.’ She smiles. ‘What do I have to lose?’
As I know for a fact that he likes Lulu, I might give Phil a nudge in the right direction.
We choose the same dish, the catch of the day, and dine on the most delicious red mullet, drizzled with lemon juice and parsley, served with salad and chunky handmade chips. The portions are so generous, we share a dessert of galaktoboureko , a custard cake dusted with icing sugar.
‘Well, that will keep me going on the flight,’ says Lulu, pushing her bowl away, sated.
Although the restaurant is busy, we never feel rushed as our waiter deposits some more bottled water onto the table.
Despite it being a tourist area, there is no pressure to leave the table as there is back home, where everything feels hurried.
We savour every minute of Lulu’s last day here as we sip our iced water and feel the warm sun on our skin.
After our wonderful lunch, we have a wander around the area passing more bars, a couple of restaurants, and just taking in the view.
‘Those steps back up to the car will work some of that lunch off,’ says Lulu, as we ascend the steps back to the car park at the top. We pass donkeys on the way up, and a woman offers their services. We politely decline, despite the heat, especially as there not as many steps as there were in Fira.
Back in the car, I switch the car radio on as we head to the airport, and we listen to Greek music as we drive along.
‘These songs remind me of the Greek dancing at the wedding,’ says Lulu as we drive, and I recall Christos interjecting as I danced with Bryn, and how I felt when he draped his arm around my shoulders.
‘They do.’ I smile. ‘I’m so happy my friend had such a fabulous wedding. I can understand why people choose to marry here in Greece,’ I say, batting away an image of myself and Christos standing at an altar in a tiny Greek church.
When we finally arrive at the airport, Lulu takes a small gift wrapped in tissue paper from her handbag, and hands it to me.
‘What’s this?’ I ask in surprise.
‘It’s for you.’ She smiles. ‘Open it.’
Inside the tissue paper is the prettiest blue stone at the end of a leather thong necklace.
‘It’s lapis lazuli,’ she explains. ‘It’s thought to enhance one’s intuitive abilities. Not that I think you need to do that.’ She smiles. ‘I just thought it looked very pretty.’
‘Oh, Lulu, it’s beautiful, thank you.’ I stroke the stone, admiring its beauty, the stone streaked with a blue and green pattern that reminds me of the sea.
‘It’s so lovely, but there was really no need to buy me anything,’ I tell Lulu.
‘I just wanted to get you a gift.’ She smiles. ‘I have had such a wonderful time here and you are a good friend, Mia. You tell me the truth, even when I don’t always like it. That’s what I call a real friend.’
I embrace my friend in a lingering hug and thank her once more.
‘Safe travels,’ I say, feeling a little choked up, before she heads off towards check-in.
As I watch her leave, I realise that despite my aspirations to be a singer, and to live my happily ever after with the love of my life, my friendship with Lulu is one of the most important things in my life. I truly hope that never changes.